Not quite thru with break-in yet (400 more miles), but so far, this is how it feels. BE is much better in city traffic, as stoplight get-away is so easy. On a sudden start, you do tend to get about 6 inches of burning rubber before the traction clicks in.
Magazines have overstated ride jiggliness. Asphalt highways are all fine, concrete transmits a sense of road texture and some noise (but no worse than the tt on Michelins). The only annoying areas are sections that have frequent transverse tar strips, where it thumps. City driving and rr tracks are equivalent. BE is firmer, but not uncomfortable.
Turn-in on a highway ramp is much better in the BE. I haven't allowed the rear to step out yet (other than slow speeds), but you can feel it wanting to after the nose carves in. The tt is heavily biased to understeer (more like a front drive car), and the opposite of that is refreshing in the BE. My Lotus Elise 190 R actually understeers more than the BE. Compared to street (standard lotus) rubber, the BE has more lateral grip than the Lotus (which can be drifted at street-reachable speeds).
Highway cruising is a paradox. The X50, in the right gear, feels quicker, but the BE doesn't need a gear change, or gets into the correct gear so quickly that it allows more relaxed slicing thru traffic. Neither car is relaxing, but the BE is the better highway tool. Not surprising, as a big engine in the front typically is better for interstate driving.
They tell you to keep below 85 mph for the first 1,000 miles, and that is frankly impossible. Over 95, there is a slight steering wheel vibration that could be normal, go away, or intensify as speed climbs-but I don't know yet.

You can watch the gas guage drop- this car needs a big tank option, like the old Corvettes. The most I have gotten into it is 13.3 gallons, after driving a while on reserve.

The side bolster knocks the blackberry off your belt, so it automatically gets dropped into the cup holder on car entry.

Important minor point. The BE has a center console that functions as a good armrest. I don't think you realize how important that is until you have a car like the 996 that doesn't have one. The ergonomics encourage gripping the wheel in a non-classical 4-8 vs the classical 2-10 positions. I am guessing the MB engineers drive with their hands at the bottom of the wheel.

Funny observation. There is a blank for about 12 buttons on the dash, which I guess would be heated seats, sunscreen, etc. But the car has only 3 operable- lock, unlock, and traction contol off.

More to come. AS

 

Thanks for your observations. I have only done 100 miles on my new acquisition, but I had to smile when I read your comment about the Blackberry. I thought I had lost mine and then found it later in the cup holder! My previous car was an Audi RS6 which had 512 bhp and upgraded Hodgekiss sway bars ... I thought it handled well until I drove the BS. The BS tracks so well through corners ... it goes exactly where you point it. I have some S-bends near where I live and the BS will take those at the same speeds as the RS with much less feeling of weight redistribution. I haven't pushed harder yet as I am still baby'ing the car.

Andy